Build your own Solar Furnace

Photoblog of this project http://popcansolar.blogspot.com/

My other video has audio narration. answer email questions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz7k9El_d7A

This solar energy project received second place in the 2007 Bordeaux Energy Colloquium's Annual Sustainable Energy Futures Casestudy Competition, an international competition for the most innovative renewable energy initiative.

The project exceeded proof of concept.

The furnace helped heat a 250sq ft room and did so quite well even in intermittent sunlight. It does not replace conventional home heating. While the results were impressive, I have chosen to wait another year before rebuilding it.

Contact

Although I appreciate the email messages, I cannot respond to all, and generally do not respond to questions about building techniques or materials (that's what these photos are for). If you like my project, go out and build your own. If everyone did, we'd actually make a difference. This isn't rocket science and I am no expert. I can not answer technical questions.

Vybudovat svůj vlastní sluneční Pec
بناء الفرن مفوضيتك بالطاقة الشمسية
Изгради своя собствена слънчева пещ
建造你的自己日光的熔炉
Byg din egen SolarSmelteovn
Bouw uw eigen Zonneoven
Rakenna oma Auringon Lämmityskattilasi
Construire votre propre Fournaise Solaire
Bauen Sie Ihren eigenen Solarofen
κατασκευάσει τη δική σας ηλιακής κλιβάνου
ज्यादा-से-ज्यादा अपने ही सौर भट्टी
Ön fordítási saját Napenergia kemence
造りあなた自身の太陽の暖炉〔溶鉱炉〕
빌드할 용광로 자신의 태양열
Zbudować swój własny Piec słoneczną
construi propriul tau energia solara cuptor
Стройте вашу собственную Солнечную Печь
สร้างแผงพลังงานแสงอาทิตย์ของคุณเองเตาหลอม

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• แผงพลังงานแสงอาทิตย์
• sol
• солнечный
• solara
• منظومه‌ شمسي‌
• لمر
• Słoneczne
• 태양
• 太陽です
• solare
• Napenergia
• सौर-ऊर्जा
• Ηλιακή ενέργεια
• solaire
• Auringon
• Zonne
• Sluneční
• 日光
• Слънчева енергия
• الطاقة الشمسية
• climate
• generator

[ratcat17]

No Video just a stupid ad for mastercard then freezes

[drobicho]

@ratcat17 there are several options. Have you tried viewing the video from the blogsite? Also, have you tried pressing "skip this add"? The video works, just checked it from a few terminals. If it's the cost of free that's bothering you - you're under no obligation to follow the detailed intrustctions from my photoblog, there's hundreds of others.

[drobicho]

@ratcat17 there are several options. Have you tried viewing the video from the blogsite? Also, have you tried pressing "skip this add"? The video works, just checked it from a few terminals. If it's the cost of free that's bothering you - you're under no obligation to follow the detailed intructions from my photoblog, there's hundreds of others.

[drobicho]

@jack042065 This one is built out of glass taken from shashless windows. It's built mainly of wood, and since it is exposed to the weather, it does shift and needs annual maintenance, checking seals, etc. It's very important that it is sealed tightly.

[drobicho]

So anyways, there's no need to send me hate mail. If you don't like what you see, move on. I make this information available to you at no cost, and I have no product to sell.

[stephendouglas911]

Hi Drobicho. Just wanted to say your video is good, I am building one myself for the winter and will use some of your ideas.

I also want to say to those who are putting him down, shame on you. Heres a guy sharing his knowledge and all you can do is joke. Nobody minds serious questions and suggestions. But iIf you dont have anything nice to say then be mature and say nothing.

[ratcat17]

I clicked on the shortcut to the video on youtube and it opened the page (on youtube) but played a stupid mastercard ad then froze two thirds of the way through. I have no intention of visiting any other site. Typical of any business Ebay, Youtube, Facebook, Steam, they all get greedy and start shoving advertising down your thoat until you end up so pissed off you go to a clone site that doesnt do that. (Until they get too big).

[drobicho]

@fuzzywzhe Thanks for the idea... I was actually thinking of reusing old electric oil radiators...

[fuzzywzhe]

@drobicho Wouldn't a water heater make more sense? You don't need this in the summer when it works best. How much heat can you get out of this in winter? With a hot water heater, you can at least use it to heat water during the sumer.

You could use a photovoltaic cell to run a DC water pump to circulate water. It would stop when the sun goes down. You could get clever and use a thermostat to control it too.

[jack042065]

@drobicho thankyou

[honkydudeman]

@jack042065 hey jack,if you use "old"upvc windows they dont rot?excellent insulation,any plexy glas is a NO NO ,it rots quickly or gets so scratched with cleaning+will not function?,upvc windows+patio doors are so cheap or even free?just make a back panel +bingo ,its RECYCLING ALSO ?90%of solar panels should be "used stuff",,,,,,,AMEN LOL

[Anvilshock]

@drobicho Well, calling it a "furnace" is quite the bold exaggeration, nothing more than a marketing fluke. A "real" solar furnace is by definition a device that creates temperatures of several thousand degrees (of ANY scale) by focusing massive amounts of solar heat and light onto a relatively small spot ("solar concentrator").

Your device however is functionally different, it's a so-called "solar-thermal collector".

Nevertheless, I applaud your initiative and engagement for solar heating.